Ontario Premier heads trip to China to promote food, clean-tech

Toronto
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Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty will head a trade mission to China in a few months that will highlight the province's clean technology and agri-food industries. He made the announcement in an out-of-focus YouTube video.

Since he took over Queen’s Park in 2003, the premier has headed to China three times. In January, it will be his fourth visit and this trade mission will be one of promoting Ontario’s food and clean-tech companies, including water purification.

The Liberal premier made announcement of the YouTube and China’s Weibo network video via Facebook and Twitter on Wednesday. McGuinty will lead a delegation of provincial officials and business leaders to Beijing, Chengdu, Nanjing and Shanghai. The government officials, who include Economic Minister Brad Duguid and Tourism Minister Michael Chan, will meet with important decision-making leaders in China, the province’s second-largest trading partner.

The trip will take place from Jan. 20 to Jan. 25, 2013.

Despite his criticism of China over its establishment of coal-fire electricity generating plants and producing pollution, the premier, who has made similar trips to India, Pakistan and the Middle East, believes it’s an important mission.

“In today’s rapidly changing global economy, we are always more successful when we work together. That’s what this trade mission is all about: working together to seize opportunities to grow our economy and create more jobs,” the premier told viewers in a video that appears to be out-of-focus.

“Each visit makes it more clear that China is one of the world's most dynamic economies and that Ontario companies have what it takes to help China meet its priorities, like clean water, clean technology and agri-food production and innovation.”

The Ontario government argues that these missions have not only raised awareness of Ontario, but has also generated more than $1.5 billion in business agreements in the fields of education, life sciences and clean energy, according to a news release.